Wilson County Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Wilson, North Carolina - 25 schools

An equity score of 48/100 ranks Wilson County Schools #130 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,063 per pupil, Wilson County Schools ranks #131 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

10,276
Total Enrollment
25
Schools
$12,063
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Wilson County Schools operates 25 public schools serving 10,276 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 11 elementary, 5 high, 5 middle, 4 combined schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Wilson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,063 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.1% local, 58.4% state, and 20.5% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 48/100, ranked #130 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 25 schools offering Advanced Placement (22 AP courses district-wide), a 348.5:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 29.8% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 41.1% African American, 27.9% White, 25.0% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Frederick Douglass Elementary, with a diversity index of 70.8/100.

Its largest campus is James Hunt High, enrolling 1,115 students (11% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Wilson Academy of Virtual Education, at 44 students, a 25x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Wilson County Schools school enrollment varies 25× across entities

Wilson County Schools school enrollment ranges from 44 students (lowest) to 1,115 students (highest), a spread of 1,071 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Wilson County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 81.3% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Wilson County Schools student-counselor ratio is 349:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Wilson County Schools is typically wider than the Wilson County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Wilson County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 29.8% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Wilson County Schools is typically wider than the Wilson County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

20.5%
Federal
58.4%
State
21.1%
Local

Funding Equity

48
Equity Score
130 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 25 schools in Wilson County Schools.

White 27.9%
Hispanic or Latino 25.0%
African American 41.1%
Asian 1.2%
Multiracial 4.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 61.6/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Wilson County Schools's schools, above the North Carolina average of 56.1.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Frederick Douglass Elementary 70.8
  2. 2 New Hope Elementary 69.4
  3. 3 Wilson Academy of Applied Technology 69.3
  4. 4 Speight Middle 69.1
  5. 5 James Hunt High 69.0

Programs & Resources

3 / 25
Schools with AP
22 AP courses total
348.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.8%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Wilson County Schools

School Enrollment
James Hunt High
1,115
Fike High
1,028
Forest Hills Middle
654
Beddingfield High
653
John W Jones Elementary
601
Rock Ridge Elementary
476
New Hope Elementary
460
Vinson-Bynum Elementary
458
Springfield Middle
448
Lucama Elementary
431
Margaret Hearne Elementary
423
Elm City Middle
399
Wells Elementary
383
Charles H Darden Middle
378
Vick Elementary
359
Frederick Douglass Elementary
339
Speight Middle
281
Gardners Elementary
280
Wilson Academy of Applied Technology
280
B O Barnes Elementary
274
Wilson Early College Academy
268
Stantonsburg Elementary
184
Lee Woodard Elementary
173
Milton M Daniels Learning Center
62
Wilson Academy of Virtual Education
44

How Wilson County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Carolina districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Duplin County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Caldwell County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Pender County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Rockingham County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lee County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Wilson County Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $11,859/pupil
Compare vs Wilson County Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Wilson County Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Wilson County Schools →
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Wilson County Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs Wilson County Schools →

Compare Wilson County Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Wilson County Schools?

Wilson County Schools has 25 schools, including 5 high, 5 middle, 4 combined, 11 elementary. Total enrollment is 10,276 students.

How much does Wilson County Schools spend per student?

Wilson County Schools spends $12,063 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #130 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Wilson County Schools?

Wilson County Schools students are 41.1% African American, 27.9% White, 25.0% Hispanic or Latino, 1.2% Asian, averaged across 25 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Wilson County Schools?

Wilson County Schools has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #130 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.